Scratch Issue #5
Scratch is a Zine created in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2006 by Project Q. They were able to produce multiple issues that incorporate photography and photocopying elements. There is a variety of type, halftone effects, use of color, and tight margins. They also used lots of gritty textures, with the masthead showcasing lots of texture. The type they used for headers and page numbers was rough, with sans serif body copy. The zine is educational and informs readers about queer rights and the never-ending homophobia that is ingrained in our society. Many stories are submitted by readers of the zine to highlight or discuss issues and share their thoughts on the LGBTQ+ community’s progress as well as obstacles. One short article discusses the origins of the Bisexual flag, which was created by Michael Page as a way to increase bisexual visibility. Another article discusses pride in major cities around the world, like São Paulo, Sydney, and San Francisco. There are also little blurbs that talk about the start of those parades and how much they’ve grown over time.
The zine issues also share a glimpse of the times and what was prevalent in the media that garnered interest within the community. On page 14 of the zine, there’s a section titled Your World, Your News that dives into gay pop culture. One of the headlines highlights the American Family Association (AFA), which pressured Wal-Mart to stop selling the movie Brokeback Mountain. They believed Wal-Mart was trying to help normalize homosexuality in society. On page 9, in a section titled Homophobe Watch, there is a quote made by former President George W. Bush that discourages same-sex marriage, as he says, “...we must never give in to the belief that America is in decline, or that our culture is doomed to unravel”. Many of the articles or think pieces in Scratch were created for the purpose of distributing queer content and informing readers about multiple perspectives because within the community, there is struggle, but individual struggle that isn’t replicated and sometimes recognized by everyone. Even in this issue, there isn’t much mention of Trans people and any stories from or relating to them.
A small zine from Milwaukee was providing important information not only for queer readers, but for outsiders who stumbled upon the magazine, as well as providing insight for future generations about the past and how queer rights have always been up for debate as long as the American public sees gay people in a negative or sexual light. An underground zine from Milwaukee was an outlet of freedom and pride for the queer people of Milwaukee and most likely in neighboring cities as well. With the rise of social media, content like this is pumped out on a daily basis by social media accounts that specifically post queer content like PinkNews, Out, LGBTQ Nation, and so many more. Underground design has provided a basis for what has become the norm now, and without it, we would not be where we are today in pushing the boundaries of design and queer rights.
